Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1324

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PENANG-MALACCA

Baume & Co., London. Fabrique des Longines, Berne. John Hopkins & Co., Ld., Glasgow. Otard, Dupuy & Co., Cognac.

WEARNE BROS., LTD., Automobile Engi- neers and Importers-30, Anson

Road; Teleph. 258; Tel. Ad: Wearne; Codes: A.B.C. 5th. edition and Private. Head Office: 209-212, Orchard Road, Singapore

WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & Co., LTD., Drapers and Complete House Furnishers-4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, Bishop Street

S. G. Parrett, manager

D. Rendle, assistant

W. Price

J. Fraser

F. D'Arcy

E. Bridgewater

WREFORD & THORNTON, Advocates and

Solicitors-13, Beach Street

James Sellar, B.L. (Scot.)

Arthur R. Thornton, barrister-at-law G. H. Goh, L.L.B., barrister-at-law, asst.

1209

WRIGHT-MOTION, G. E., Advocate and Solicitor-14, Beach Street, and Ipoh, F. M. S.; Telephs. 657, Ipoh 171; Tel. Ad: Motion; Codes: A.B.C. 5th edition and Broomhall's (Rubber Edition)

George Egerton Wright-Motion, Soli- citor of the Supreme Court, England, Advocate and Solicitor, S. S. and of the Courts of the F. M. S.

YOUNG, L. J., Agent-2, Edgcumb Road;

Tel. Ad: Diadem

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-

'Mayfair," Burmah Road

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YOUNG & Co., LTD., R., Engineers and Contractors Chamber of Commerce Buildings, 1, Downing St.; Teleph. 542; Tel. Ad: Loco

Directors-J. W. Hunt (chairman)

J. Crabb-Watt, W. H. Thorne W. G. Boulton, assistant

YOUNG, W. MCKNIGHT, Advocate and Solicitor, S.S. and F.M.S.-4A, Logan's Buildings

MALACCA

The settlement of Malacca excites more interest from a historical point of view than either of its sister towns. Commercially, it fell completely to the rear after the establishment of Penang and Singapore, but the advent of the rubber industry in 1906 has converted the settlement into a flourishing agricultural province. Originally settled by the Portuguese in 1511, it was for many years the one foreign entrepôt in the East, and the fact that it has given its name to the Peninsula and that it was the cradle of Anglo-Chinese study attest its former importance. Its area is embraced by boundaries some 42 miles in length, with a breadth of from 8 to 25 miles. It is governed by a Resident in subordination to Singapore.

The geological formation of the territory of Malacca consists chiefly of granite rocks. overlaid in several places by the red cellular clay iron-stone called by geologists laterite. Many of the low plains are alluvial, the soil composed of decayed vegetable mould interlaced with sand. The metallic ores are iron and a little tin. The surface generally is undulating, consisting of low round ridges and narrow valleys, the only mountain of considerable elevation being the Ophir of the Portuguese, which is just over the border in Johore territory, 4,187 feet above the level of the sea, or less than one-half the height of the principal mountains of the volcanic islands of Java, Bali and Lomboc, or those of the partially volcanic neighbouring island of Sumatra. It is called by the Malays "Gunong Ledang."

The mineral products of Malacca were at one time looked upon as offering valuable prospects. Gold to the extent of 1,500 ounces yearly was obtained in 1857-8, just outside the confines of the present territory, but the yield decreased to such an extent that it is no longer worked. Tin, about the same period, assumed considerable importance. The first mines were opened in 1793, but no great enterprise was displayed until 1848, when some 5,000 cwt, was the annual product. This increased until 1858, and a large number of Chinese were employed in the industry. The superior yield of the Native States, however, combined with the exhaustion of the surface workings, resulted in